WR Divas put on high alert
Wide receivers have, for a long time, been the divas of the NFL. Lithe, fluid athletes who, by definition, play out on islands unto themselves. They are the big play makers, the guys who - when successful - eat up big chunks of yardage in a hurry or come down with spectacular plays when teams need them most.
Being an NFL fan is effectively living with the diva-ish behavior of the position.
Last year was one of the best for top-performing wide receivers; some fantasy pundits called it The Year of the Receiver.
So it’s with a bit of a surprise we’re seeing a league-wide crackdown on the big play divas.
- Denver’s Brandon Marshall suspended by Roger Goodell
- Carolina’s Steve Smith suspended by his own team for a fight with a teammate
- Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson’s bluff was called by the Bengals after he threatened to sit out the season
- Arizona’s Anquan Boldin wasn’t given any satisfaction despite griping about his role and his paycheck
- Oakland’s Javon Walker called out by head coach Lane Kiffin for being out of shape and unfocused
Now comes word that the New York Giants have suspended Plaxico Burress for two weeks, for what they’re calling “team insubordination.”
The Giants did not specify why Burress was suspended. FOXSports.com, which first reported the suspension Wednesday, said Burress did not show up for work on Monday and did not telephone or answer phone messages to explain his absence.
What’s surprising about this move is that Burress has been on his best behavior for most of his career in New York. To his credit, he was even relatively calm during this offseason’s contract dispute. While he sat out of training camp with an injury, he let his agent (Drew Rosenhaus) do the talking. Giants GM Jerry Reese was publicly supportive of the need to get Burress a new deal; acknowledging that he’s outplayed his existing contract. And then, prior to the start of the season, the Giants rewarded Burress with a multi-year extension including $11mm in upfront guarantees.
Fantasy owners need to prepare themselves for not one, but two weeks without Plaxico. Fun times to bet your fantasy season on a diva, no?
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